Dust cap



.my n?, ma y www@ G. W. TERRY 4DUST GAP Filed NOV. 11 1922 f-.Finn

Patented July l?, i923.

narran star ladtdt titel GEORGE W. TERRY, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

DUST CAP.

Application filed November 11, i922. Serial No. 600,312.

plates the use of a spring member Within the recess of the enlarged end of a dust cap,-

said spring having a portion adapted to project without the recess for engagement with suitable grooves in a lock washer, whereby such dust cap and the washer are prevented from having any relative motion.

The present invention also includes convenient means for permitting the manipulation of the spring member whereby same can be withdrawn from its locked position in the groove to permit the removal of the cap.

With these and other objects in view reference will `be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Fig. l is a side elevation showing a wheel section with the improvement attached.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view showing that portion of the dust cap and valve stem including the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the dust ca showing the spring in position, and

ig. 4 is a plan view of the washer.

Referring now to the specific construction involved in the present invention, the conventional valve stem A is shown fixed to the inner tube a and extending through the wheel felly B shown in section. The valve stem is provided with screw threads throughout its entire length and these threads are interrupted by the flat faces a as is well known in the art. The dust cap D is provided with threads corresponding to the threads on the valve stem and indicated by reference .character cl. These threads are not continuous but are broken throughout opposite longitudinal faces which correspond to the fiat faces a of the valve stem. From this arrangement, it will be seen that the cap can be placed in position without engagement with the threads by having the flat faces a of the stern register with the smooth surfaces Z forming the interrupted threadv portions.

The open end yof the cap D has seated within the hexagonal recess E the spring e. the latter following the inner contour of the wall forming the recess and having the radiating arm f projecting through the openlng g formed therein. The end of thev arm f' projects upwardly at right angles to its' body portion for a short vdistance and at a point spaced from the outer wall'of the cap, and then is again bent to extend in a line parallel with its body to form the handle or gripping arm 7L.

AThe spring le is soldered or otherwise' suitably fixed to the inner wall of the recess at a point diametrically opposite the openmstance indicated by the letter z' being spaced downwardly from the upper wall of the recess so as to locate the lower face of the spring flush with the lower face of the cap. The arrangement permits the proper seating of the cap on the washer plate F.

The washer yplate F is provided with a central opening having the flat sides adapted for engagement with the fiat faces a of the valve stem so that when in position rotary movement 'is prevented. The upperv face of the washer is formed with the. grooves Zo, c which radiate from the central opening and have a common axis which extends through the center of the washer plate. It will be noted that these grooves extend from the curved walls of the opening and by this arrangement it will 'be obvious that when the washer plate is in position on the valve stem they register with the threaded portions of the valve stem at all times. 'Any suitable packing may be provided as indicated-at G, between the plate F and felly B for preventing water and dirt from passing through the felly and injuring the tube. Referring again to the spring member e attention is directed to the fact that normally the free end projects below the lower face of the cap so that when the cap is in position and properly rotated to cause the registration of the radiating arm with one of the grooves c, 7c', the arm will seat in such groove and the cap will be prevented from rotating. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be evident that to procure the arrangement of the spring as above indicated it is necessary to fix the spring at an angle to the transmg g, the point of engagement inthe present verse axis of the cap. When it is desired to release the cap to permit the removal of same the gripping arm h is engaged and elevated to withdraw the arm f within the slot g. The cap can then be rotated to permit the disengagement of the threaded portion.

Attention is directed to the fact that aly though the washer is not threaded or other- 1. In combination with a felly, a valve wise locked in position on the stem, nevertheless due to pitch of the threads, when the cap is forced into position andthe threads of the stem are engaged by the threads of the cap, the downward movementvof the cap caused thereby will result in binding the washer irmly against the felly. This'will eliminate any possibility of the cap rattlingr or causing vany noise. The packing G will also assist in the rm seating of the washer by permitting a slight elastic action as the latter is secured in locked position.

Numerous changes in detail of construction and arrangement of partsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is zstem, a washer supported on said elly'and having grooves formed in vone Jface, a dust cap, anda spring permanently attached to said dust cap adapted to seat in one of said grooves.

2. In combination with a felly, a valve stem, a grooved washer on said valve stem and engaging said felly, a dust cap formed with a recess, a spring located within said recess and normally projecting Without `said cap and engaging said grooved washer, and a. gripping arm for said spring. v

3. In' combination with a valve stem, a washer carried thereby provided with a groove in its upper face, a dust cap, a recess in said dust cap, the wall of said recess being notched, a spring fixed within said re cess and projecting through said-notch, said spring normally seating in said ygroove, and an armk projecting upwardly from said spring and being spaced from the outside wall of said cap.

4:. In combination with a valve stem, a grooved washer carried thereby and ixed against rotation, a dust cap, a hexagonal spring located within said dust cap, one end of said spring being xed to the inner wall of said cap flush with the bottom :tace of` said cap, and the opposite end of said spring projecting downwardly for Vengagement with said grooved washer, and terminating in a handle portion spaced from the outer wall of said cap. j

5. In combination with a valve stem, a washer carried thereby and lixed againstv rotation, grooves radiating from the central axis oisaidwasher in theupper face thereof, a dust cap, a xed spring within the said 'cap arranged at an angle to its horizontal axis, the bodyy of said spring following the inner wall ,ofsaid`V cap and yterminating in an ofiset handle portion, a `portion of said spring being adapted to engage and seat within one oi" said grooves. l`

6. In combination with a valve stem, a washer carried. therebyand fixed against rotation, grooves formed in the upper face of said washer and radiating from its central axis, a dust cap formed with a recess in its lower end, the wall of said recess being notched, a iixed spring within said recess, the -bodyo'f .said spring following the inner wall of said recess at an angle to its horizonal axis and projecting through said `notch without said cap, the portion of said spring without said capbeing spaced Yfrom the outer wall of said cap and projecting up-l f wardly and outwardly to 'form a handle, and the portion of said spring projecting through said notch being adapted for engagement with the grooves in saidv washer. j y

7. A valve stemv a washer plate formed with a .recessed upper face, a dust cap formed with a recess, a spring ymember rigidlyv attached to said dust cap within said recess and projecting downwardly at an angle to the .transverse axisto engage they 

